Embarking on that first overseas flight with a baby can be a stressful experience, but as long as parents stick to baby's familiar routine – with a few minor adjustments – he'll have less trouble adjusting to a new time zone.
Feeding Baby on the Plane
Feed baby according to his regular schedule while on the plane, and adjust to the local schedule once you've arrived at your destination, even if it means giving baby an extra feed that day or feeding him at a time when he wouldn't normally be eating.
Baby may need extra fluids during the flight to stay hydrated. Breastfeeding mothers should be sure to drink lots of extra fluids and have snacks on hand to ensure a full milk supply. Giving baby a bottle or pacifier or offering him the breast during take-off and landing can help equalize his ears.
Sleeping on the Plane
Most airlines do not require parents to purchase a separate ticket for babies under two years old (although most will charge 10 percent of the adult fare, so the ticket isn't completely free). This can make family travel more affordable, but the downside is that baby will not have a seat, meaning that he will have to sit on Mom or Dad's lap for the duration of the flight, making sleeping difficult for everyone.
Ask at check-in to sit in a seat with more leg room, and enquire whether there are any seats reserved for disabled travelers and families traveling with children. In some airplanes, but not all, the bulkhead seats are the best for this. Some airplanes are equipped with bassinets for young babies. Bassinets attach to the bulkhead and are ideal for parents who are traveling alone with baby. Bassinets cannot be booked in advance and must be requested from a flight attendant on board.
You can also take an FAA-approved car seat on board most flights. If the flight is not full, you can request to sit next to an empty seat, where you can attach the car seat so baby will have his own “seat” and hopefully sleep. If the flight is full, you can gate-check the car seat, and it will be ready for you when you de-board the plane at your destination.
Establishing a Sleep Routine at the Destination
Most eastbound flights from the United States to Europe are overnight journeys, while many westbound flights are scheduled during the day.
Most babies will sleep on an overnight flight, but a baby who is used to 12 hours of sleep will probably be cranky with only five or six, making it difficult to last through the rest of the day. Baby will probably need extra sleep at nap times, but limit naps to two hours to ensure that baby sleeps at night.
Daytime flights from Europe to the U.S. usually arrive between mid to late afternoon. A long day of traveling means that baby will probably be tired by his usual bedtime, so it can be a struggle to keep him awake until the local bedtime.
Regardless of which way you're traveling, try to put baby to bed at the local bedtime, even if it means putting baby to bed in the middle of the afternoon on home time or keeping him up a bit longer. If baby’s usual bedtime is 7:00 p.m., put him to bed at 7:00 p.m. local time. The quicker baby can adjust to the local time, the quicker he will overcome any jet lag.
Flying overseas with a baby can be overwhelming for both parents and baby, but planning ahead and maintaining a routine can help ensure that baby adjusts smoothly so that the whole family can enjoy an exciting international experience.
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